Science fiction, fantasy, mystery and what-not
Ah, something of this century spun through my head last night. I couldn’t get rid of it, so I’m posting it here and passing it on to others. It’s that riff that runs through the song that keeps hooking me. Once again, as with many songs I hear, I wonder, what the hell are they singing? More importantly, what does it mean?
Here’s The White Stripes with “Seven Nation Army” from two thousand three.
Had beers (Caldera Pilot Rock Porter for me, thanks) with my friends last night. A staid group, they’re retired materials and sound engineers, doctors, university professors, and physicists. A small group, just eight last night, I’m the youngest by eight years. None of those present last night knew this song. Hope you do.
Here’s ZZ Top performing “Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers” on their nineteen seventy-three album, “Tres Hombres.” I listened to this album a great deal during my junior and senior high school years, especially in art class.
It’s a basic rock and roll, guitar-hero, hot as hell day. I employ hyperbole, of course. It’s not as hell today, but will be a toasty, sweat inducing, hyperbole-inspiring ninety-seven degrees on the beloved Fahrenheit scale.
Love this song. Stationed in Germany with the U.S. Air Force and watching the Soviets when the song hit the waves and created a stream source in my head, I always considered it a direct, mocking response to President George H.W. Bush’s inauguration. Here’s my reference:
We got a thousand points of light
For the homeless man
We got a kinder, gentler,
Machine gun hand
We got department stores
and toilet paper
Got styrofoam boxes
for the ozone layer
Got a man of the people,
says keep hope alive
Got fuel to burn,
got roads to drive.
h/t to azlyrics.com
Yes, values, priorities, and directions can get a little skewed in the free world. Here’s Neil Young from nineteen eighty-nine with “Rockin’ In the Free World.”
It’s July 4 in America. Probably that date in many other parts of the world, too. For Americans, though, it’s associated with Independence Day, a holiday commemorating the signing of the Declaration of Independence. So, what the hell. With that in mind, I started streaming this song from nineteen eighty-one:
“America”
Free,
Only want to be free
We huddle close
Hang on to a dream
On the boats and on the planes
They’re coming to America
Never looking back again,
They’re coming to America
I was going to do some Rush today, but my head streamed some other stuff. Geddy Lee did make it as part of the new sound in my head.
It’s from the early 1980s, which was, like, an interesting time, hey? Like, we didn’t have cell phones, and couldn’t take selfies, like people today can do. Being primitive people, we lacked Facebook and other social media, depending on staying connected by calling on land-lines, writing letters, or visiting. CNN had just gotten started, and Fox News was still sixteen years away. I didn’t even have an email account, then. That didn’t matter, as nobody I knew had an account.
Email seemed so futuristic and exciting when I signed up for my first account, with AOL. I remember receiving my first email. It was for a product called Viagra. I thought it was important, because it was addressed to me by name, and said, “URGENT!” in the subject line. None of the links worked, though, because Viagra didn’t exist, yet. That’s how advanced those times where, though.
Here is Bob & Doug McKenzie, of the McKenzie Brothers (Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas) of SCTV, with Geddy, presenting their fantastic dance hit, “Take Off.”
Today’s song is such a classic anthem of insight and intelligence, and so well known, that it needs no introduction. Although it’s been over fifty years since it swept the air-waves, becoming the song played at proms and political rallies, it’s perfect for today’s political era. Just crank it up (that means, turn it up to a high volume), sit back, and listen.
Today’s song, “Sister Christian,” by Night Ranger, is an example of how music brings us together.
The song came was a hit in nineteen eighty-four. I lived on Okinawa at the time. I bought the album but I’m not a big Night Rangers fan. The album, though, entered the Sony CD turntable. A few years later, now stationed in Germany, I have a party going on at my house. Guests include a number of young airmen. This song comes on. Suddenly, two of them were yelling, “Oh my God, Night Ranger. I love Night Ranger. I love this song.”
So we cranked up the song, and the Bose 901s boomed it out. The lyrics are simple, and well-enunciated, and the song had received a lot of air play. Everyone present either knew the song, or proficiently faked it. Soon all present were performing in their best karoaka manner, minus microphones. It probably helped that we were drinking some fine German beer, doing shots of chilled Jagermeister, and we were several hours into the party.
I still smile in memory.
You’re heading into the weekend, or you’re already in it, depending upon your region, you know what you gotta do? That’s right, turn it up. Things go better with rock. Here’s Autograph, from nineteen eighty-four, with “Turn Up the Radio.” Ah, the video, the clothes, hair, attitude, and general corniness. It’s a trip-treat.
This one is dedicated to all those dreamers out there, all those writers, singers, poets, actors and artists who have a hope and won’t stop believing.
Here is Journey – with Steve Perry on vocals (instead of, say, Peter Griffin) – with “Don’t Stop Believing” from nineteen eighty-one.
